Nov2013_MOVIE REVIEW: About Time

(Again coming straight form the UK.)

By Gemma Schuhmann

About Time is, as the tagline says, ‘a funny love story, with a little bit of time travel’.   At the age of 21, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers from his father (Bill Nighy) that all the men in their family can travel in time, or rather back in time but only within their own life.

Tim being of the right age, of course uses it to get the girl of his dreams (Rachel McAdams).  The only trouble is how to keep her.

The thing about this film is that you must accept the time travel part for what it is.  Once you start questioning it, it becomes confusing and holes begin to appear.  However it is a good film. Just don’t expect a great love story.  Half way through, the girl of his dreams gets left to the side as he focuses more on fixing his family’s problems.  Because of this, the film forever feels like it just started.  The voice-over doesn’t help.  It feels like an introduction every time it starts up again.

This is one of Domhnall Gleeson’s first lead roles and he has done a brilliant job.  You feel for him, no matter what he does.  However the other actors are wasted in their roles.   Rachel McAdams has a one dimensional character whose one and only purpose is to be the dream girl, while Bill Nighy is his usual self and still points with two fingers.  The most outstanding performance comes from Lydia Wilson as the younger sister.  The character has such a diversity of emotions that are performed without fault.  If only the same could be said for the rest of the film.

Richard Curtis has brought us films like Four Weddings And a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually and Blackadder, just to name a few.  So it’s hard to believe this film could be so flat.  This is also his last film before he leaves the business for a much quieter life.  It’s such a shame that a man who can create great films hasn’t managed to go out with a bang.

About Time will make you laugh and cry.  It’s a family story not a romantic one.

 

RATING:  3 out of 5 stars.